F-Zero GX review

That big ball looks like a runaway shot from a BFG. Nah, maybe not...

First things first; this is fast! Nintendo once again demonstrates how to make the hearts of gamers skip several beats. Like the other installments in the series, F-Zero GX is all about breaking the sound barrier time and again, all while trying to avoid becoming a wet stain on the road before you’ve finished the final lap. Back in 1990 the first F-Zero game was released for the SNES, paving the road for the new hi-speed sci-fi racing genre that has spawned such games as Wipeout, XGRA and G-Surfers. The original F-Zero was somewhat of a revolution with its spectacular pseudo 3D graphics, powered by so-called “Mode 7” technology. This time around, none other than Sega has been involved in the development of the game. Can the two rival companies really make magic together?

Many years from now, in a galaxy not so far away

I want to get to the sushi bar! Where's the damn pedestrian crossing?

Set in the distant future the main character – Captain Falcon – remains the same as in the first F-Zero, thirteen years ago. There never seemed to be any particular reason he has been the protagonist throughout the series, being that he never really differed much from the other pilots. F-Zero GX is about to change all this with the inclusion of a story mode in which our hero needs to complete specific missions that take place on special courses in the game. You unlock these courses by racking up points in Grand Prix mode. It’s all part of the entertaining story of Captain Falcon, which is partly told through some of the best looking and funniest cut-sequences ever seen on a Nintendo machine.

Story mode is not the only new thing you get, though. By earning points in Grand Prix you can buy upgrades and make your own fully customisable vehicles. Some of the vehicles you can put together are really hilarious with all kinds of designs, varying from something looking a lawnmower to fancy rides that didn’t make the cut when George Lucas made Star Wars.

A big shiny monument for the enviromentally vital earthworm.

There can be only one

F-Zero GX is all about winning the races, a simple goal but indeed a hard one to accomplish. The first batch of difficulty levels shouldn’t be that much of a problem for you, but set the slider to Expert or Master, and you better be skilled with a rocket sled or the only thing you’ll be seeing is taillights. I’m all about the challenge, but some of my friends question the fun of having to spend several hours learning each course inside out because that’s the only way you’re going to win. You’ll barely clear a turn before the next one is right in front of your face and boosting your speed means draining your shields. This all adds up to a big gamble if you want to be the first across the finishing line. Many times has my vehicle become an exploding fireball only inches from the finishing line as a result of drained shields and reckless driving. Luckily you’ll rarely feel down because of this, since the adrenaline rush makes you forget your disappointment. It’s truly amazing how exhausted you can become just sitting in front of your TV.

The G Xperience

You really shouldn't be playing the game from this angle, your head will spin just fine from the racing itself.

The F-Zero world has never been one of rich detail. The series has always focused hard on smooth movement, sacrificing detail on the altar of speed. This time around, though, the courses are truly amazing to behold. You not only see 30 pilots in spectacular vehicles, you also see surroundings so beautiful you get the urge to step on the brake to admire the floating holograms, shiny metal architecture or maybe just the rustle of the leaves in the wind – I’ll just stop before I get ahead of myself here. This is certainly the best looking incarnation of the F-Zero universe I’ve ever seen.

Nintendo + Sega = F-Zero GX

This is not the place to stray off the beaten track.

F-Zero GX offers plenty of new stuff to toy with, all the while retaining the great game play that has become a trademark of the series. Multiplayer feels a little too much like the N64 version, though, and it would have been nice to have some missiles to launch at my friends. On the other hand, the insane speed of the game would probably make the inclusion of weapons too chaotic.

The collaboration of Sega and Nintendo in this game has succeeded beyond expectations. F-Zero GX has solid gameplay, fresh ideas and is a thoroughly inspired game. This almost makes you wish that the two companies would just join forces and beat their competitors once and for all. Hopefully we’ll see more collaborations like this one in the future.


Source: Boomtown DK
English version by: Julian Henlov (Progrock)